Technology

KS3 Design and Technology

What will I study?

The Design and Technology Department at Shuttleworth College delivers an innovative and creative curriculum that will provide you with experiences across a range of subjects encompassing product and graphic design, electronics, food and nutrition and textiles.

Our aim is to inspire the designers of the future in a world of ever advancing technologies with computer aided design and manufacture an integral element of the course of study. Through a range of creative and practical activities you will be taught the knowledge, skills and understanding to engage in an iterative design process – meaning your continued research, increasing knowledge of materials and processes, explorations and analysis, will enable you to constantly modify and improve the quality and effectiveness of your product outcomes.

Within Food and Nutrition in particular, you will be taught how to apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating, becoming competent in a range of techniques and confident in the production, adaption and evaluation of a range of predominantly savoury dishes. You will be expected to work safely and collaboratively across all areas within the faculty.

Four learning programmes are delivered in Design and Technology across Key Stage 3:

Year 7:

Textiles Technology : ‘Mini Monsters’

Materials Technology: ‘Wacky Races’

Year 8:

Food and Nutrition

Product Design: ‘Mood Lighting’

How will I be assessed?

Your knowledge and ability to design, make and evaluate will be formally assessed at the end of each learning programme in relation to Design and Technology banded criteria, and ongoing assessment will take the form of ‘Personal Progress Plans’. Completed by staff at regular intervals, these will reflect your attainment in relation to fundamental skills in terms of ‘foundation’, ‘developing’, ‘secure’ and ‘mastered’. Personal Progress Plans will allow staff to set meaningful and relevant lesson, homework and extension tasks for you on reflection of areas requiring further development.

How can I stretch my learning?

Students that are successful within the areas of Product Design, Electronics and Textiles Technology demonstrate an inquisitive nature, ability to problem solve and capacity to design and make for different purposes. Wherever you can, you should engage with activities that focus on the adaptation of products or construction of outcomes using a range of materials and processes. This could include adapting recipes, modifying clothing, creating accessories, assembling products and exploring movement through the use of elements such as levers, electronics and paper engineering.

STEM based activities develop both your capacity to problem solve and construct outcomes. You could join our ‘STEMterprise’ Club or simply test and extend your creativity, knowledge and practical abilities through accessing the wealth of activities you can find on the internet.

In Year 10 you will begin your controlled assessment tasks. This will continue into Year 11 and be followed by an intense period of revision in order to prepare you fully for the written paper.

How will I be assessed?

Unit 1: Written paper – Food & Nutrition worth 40% of final grade

A 1 hour 30 minute exam paper sat at the end of Year 11. You are expected to demonstrate your subject knowledge and respond to a range of questions with well-structured written responses.

Unit 2: Controlled assessment worth 60% of final grade

This consists of two tasks, one completed in Year 10, the other completed at the start of Year 11. You will submit all work on A4 with photographic evidence of practical tasks.

Individual Investigation (45%)

An investigation carried out in the classroom, based on a task selected from a range provided by AQA. The investigation will include written and practical elements and must provide evidence of research, analysis and interpretation of information. This should then be used in the formation of a practical solution.

Research Task (15%)

A short research task, selected from a range of tasks provided by AQA, which is completed under supervision within the classroom.

How can I stretch my learning?

Students that are successful in Food and Nutrition demonstrate desire and commitment to expanding their practical abilities and knowledge of ingredients. Cook at home whenever you can. Set yourself challenges by designing meals based on limited ingredients or adapt existing recipes to create improved nutritional outcomes.

Become a food critic when eating out! Analyse the presentation, taste and nutritional content of the meals that you eat and see. Watch Masterchef, Jamie’s Fifteen Minute meals and other cooking based programmes for inspiration for your own practice and the elements within your controlled assessment tasks.

This new GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition course focuses on practical cooking skills to ensure you develop a thorough understanding of nutrition, food provenance and the working characteristics of food materials. The qualification focuses on nurturing your practical cookery skills to give you a strong understanding of nutrition.

Food preparation skills are integrated into five core topics:

Food, nutrition and health

Food science

Food safety

Food choice

Food provenance

In Year 9 you will initially follow a curriculum focused on the development of basic cookery skills and nutritional awareness. You will go on to complete projects in investigative and portfolio formats that will prepare you for the completion of non-exam assessment tasks. Theoretical content will be covered in the delivery of projects and will be a focus in early Year 10 before the non-exam assessments begin. Your theoretical understanding will be assessed in the form of written exams throughout the course.

How will I be assessed?

Unit 1: Written paper worth 50% of final grade

A 1 hour 45 minute exam paper sat at the end of Year 11. You are expected to demonstrate your subject knowledge and respond to two sections of questions, one multiple choice and one requiring written responses.

Unit 2: Non-exam assessment worth 50% of final grade

This consists of two tasks, one completed in Year 10, the other completed at the start of Year 11.

Task 1: Food Investigation

A 1500-2000 word report based on your understanding of the working characteristics, functional and chemical properties of ingredients. This task includes practical investigations.

Task 2: Food Preparation

You will prepare, cook and present a final menu in a period of no more than three hours. Planning and outcomes will be presented in a portfolio format.

How can I stretch my learning?

Students that are successful in Food Preparation and Nutrition demonstrate desire and commitment to expanding their practical abilities and knowledge of ingredients. Cook at home whenever you can and set yourself challenges by designing meals based on limited ingredients or adapt existing recipes to create improved nutritional outcomes.

Become a food critic when eating out! Analyse the presentation, taste and nutritional content of the meals that you eat and see. Watch Masterchef, Jamie’s Fifteen Minute meals and other cooking based programmes for inspiration for your own practice and the elements within your controlled assessment tasks.

This course encourages you to become proficient in the design and making of creative and original products using a range of graphic and modelling materials. You will be taught how to develop and produce design concepts from a given brief, with focus on the disassembly and analysis of existing products, knowledge of contemporary designers, drawing techniques, computer aided design, materials, sustainability and manufacturing processes.

In Years 9 and 10 you will complete a range of design portfolio based tasks that encompass corporate identity, packaging design, paper engineering and functional household products. Theoretical content will be covered in the delivery of projects and assessed in the form of written exams throughout the course.

Year 11 will consist of the completion of controlled assessment and the revision of theory in preparation for the final exam.

How will I be assessed?

Unit 1: Written paper worth 40% of final grade

A 2 hour exam paper sat at the end of Year 11. You are expected to demonstrate your subject knowledge and respond to 2 sections of questions, one of which is based on the response to pre-release material.

Unit 2: Controlled assessment worth 60% of final grade

A 45 hour design and make activity, begun in the summer term of Year 10, that is selected from a range of tasks set by the AQA exam board. You will be required to submit a full design portfolio and final product.

How can I stretch my learning?

The students that are most successful within Graphic Products are those that are committed to designing and making innovative and high quality products that are substantiated by a thorough and well communicated design process. Basically, the more time you dedicate to the subject out of school hours, the better your outcomes will be.

Aim to independently research the themes that you are studying in greater depth. Actively reinforce your learning by being inquisitive about the materials, construction and manufacturing methods used to make the products around you. Practice your drawing skills by recording products around you in isometric form, using one and two point perspective and third angle orthographic projection. Improve your ability to use computer aided design to visualise and develop your ideas by downloading ‘Tinkercad’ or ‘SketchUp’ at home.

Research product design, graphic product and packaging outcomes created by others and keep up to date with new innovations via magazines or websites such as those named below. Create links on your Facebook page or Twitter account too. A great source of inspiration can also be university degree shows.

Finally, your ability to express knowledge, analyse research, express your ideas and evaluate outcomes is key to your success in both your controlled assessment and final exam. Read articles to help extend your specialist vocabulary, go above and beyond with set literacy tasks always writing in as much depth as possible and use practice papers to help you refine your ability to secure success in the ’big mark’ questions.

This course has been designed to enable you to become proficient in designing and making products with creativity and originality, using a range of materials and techniques including computer aided design and manufacture. You will develop a sound awareness of the processes associated with researching in relation to a given brief, analysing existing products and designing and making for a specific purpose. You will develop a working knowledge of woods, metals, plastics and composite materials that will support the creation of your designs.

In Years 9 and 10 you will complete a range of design based portfolio style tasks that will encompass fundamental aspects of the curriculum including construction methods, industrial machinery and processes, prototyping and sustainability. Theoretical content will be covered in the delivery of projects and assessed in the form of written exams throughout the course.

Year 11 will consist of the completion of controlled assessment and the revision of theory in preparation for the final exam.

How will I be assessed?

Unit 1: Written paper worth 40% of final grade

A 2 hour exam paper sat at the end of Year 11. You are expected to demonstrate your subject knowledge and respond to 2 sections of questions, one of which is based on the response to pre-release material.

Unit 2: Controlled assessment worth 60% of final grade

A 45 hour design and make activity, begun in the Summer Term of Year 10, selected from a range of tasks set by the AQA exam board. You will be required to submit a full design portfolio and final product.

How can I stretch my learning?

The students that are most successful within Resistant Materials are those that are committed to designing and making original and high quality products that combine a range of materials and processes, substantiated by a thorough and well communicated design portfolio. The more time you dedicate to the subject out of school hours, the better your outcomes will be.

Aim to independently research the themes you are studying in greater depth. Actively reinforce your learning by being inquisitive about the materials and construction methods used to make the products around you. Practice your drawing skills by recording products around you in isometric form, using one and two point perspective and third angle orthographic projection. Improve your ability to use computer aided design to visualise and develop your ideas by downloading ‘Tinkercad’ or ‘SketchUp’ at home.

Research product design and resistant materials outcomes created by others and keep up to date with new innovations via magazines or websites such as those named below. Create links on your Facebook page or Twitter account too. A great source of inspiration can also be university degree shows.

Finally, your ability to demonstrate knowledge, analyse research, express your ideas and evaluate outcomes is key to your success in both your controlled assessment and final exam. Read articles to help extend your specialist vocabulary, go above and beyond with set literacy tasks always writing in as much depth as possible and use practice papers to help you refine your ability to secure success in the ’big mark’ questions.

This course has been developed to enable you to demonstrate your creativity in the making of functional textile products. It will allow you to develop fundamental practical skills associated with decorative textile processes and construction whilst gaining and applying knowledge of fibres and fabrics, finishing processes, components, design & market influences and sustainability.

In Years 9 and 10 you will complete a portfolio style project that underpins the key criteria of product analysis, design development, production planning and manufacture. Theoretical content will be covered in the delivery of projects and assessed in the form of written exams throughout the course.

Year 11 will consist of the completion of controlled assessment and the revision of theory in preparation for the final exam.

How will I be assessed?

Unit 1: Written paper worth 40% of final grade

A 2 hour exam paper sat at the end of Year 11. You are expected to demonstrate your subject knowledge and respond to 2 sections of questions, one of which is based on the response to pre-release material.

Unit 2: Controlled assessment worth 60% of final grade

A 45 hour design and make activity, begun in the summer term of Year 10, that is selected from a range of tasks set by the AQA exam board. You will be required to submit a full design portfolio and final product.

How can I stretch my learning?

The students that are most successful within Textiles Technology are those that are committed to refining their skills in designing and making original and high quality products, substantiated by a thorough and well communicated design portfolio. The more time you dedicate to the subject out of school hours, the better your outcomes will be.

Aim to independently practice the skills you learn as much as possible. Make your own patterns for textile items and create small or even large scale textile products at home. Research the themes you are studying in greater depth. Actively reinforce your learning by being inquisitive about the materials, decorative processes and construction methods used to make the items around you. Work out how items of clothing have been made or adapt existing products using embellishment or manipulation techniques. Practice your designing skills by sketching products and practising fashion illustration.

Research textile and fashion design outcomes created by others and keep up to date with new innovations via magazines or websites such as those named below. Create links on your Facebook page or Twitter account too. A great source of inspiration can also be university degree shows.

Finally, your ability to express knowledge, analyse research, express your ideas and evaluate outcomes is key to your success in both your controlled assessment and final exam. Read articles to help extend your specialist vocabulary, go above and beyond with set literacy tasks always writing in as much depth as possible and use practice papers to help you refine your ability to secure success in the ’big mark’ questions.